Patent Grant
7166024
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-140629, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ventilation member fixed to a housing for automobile electrical components or the like, and the housing to which the ventilation member is fixed.
2. Related Art
Ventilation members are attached to various housings of automobile electrical components such as ECUs (Electronic Control Units), lamps, motors, various sensors, pressure switches and actuators; cellular phones; cameras; electric shavers; electric toothbrushes; and lamps for outdoor use.
Each of the ventilation members prevents water or dust from invading the inside of a housing while playing various roles in accordance with the kind of housing to which the ventilation member is attached. The roles include propagation of voice, discharge of gas generated inside the housing, and relaxation of a change of pressure inside the housing caused by a change of temperature.
However, the ventilation members have the following problems.
Each of the ventilation members 51 and 60 shown in
On the other hand, in the ventilation member 70 shown in
According to the invention, there is provided a ventilation member having: a breathable film transmitting gas passing through an opening portion of a housing in a state in which the breathable film is fixed to the opening portion; and a support including a supporting portion for supporting the breathable film and an insertion portion to be inserted into the opening portion of the housing; wherein a lock structure for locking the support in the housing by rotating the support around a central axis of the support is formed in the insertion portion.
According to the ventilation member of the invention, the possibility that the ventilation member is pulled out of the housing can be reduced.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Description will be made about an embodiment of a ventilation member according to the invention with reference to
A ventilation member 1 shown in
Through holes 3 penetrating the supporting portion 2a and the insertion portion 2b are formed in a central portion of the support 2. The breathable film 4 is fixedly attached to the supporting portion 2a so as to cover the through holes 3. The size of the through holes 3 may be determined appropriately in consideration of the kind of housing to which the ventilation member 1 is fixed and the permeability of the breathable film 4. The area of the through holes 3 (area on a plane perpendicular to the gas permeable direction) may be set to be 0.001–100 cm2.
In addition, a plurality of through holes 3 are provided in the surface abutting against the breathable film 4 as shown in
The shape of the supporting portion 2a is not limited particularly, but may be like a disc having a larger diameter than that of the insertion portion 2b, as shown in
In addition, the surface of the supporting portion 2a abutting against the breathable film 4 is formed into a curved surface as shown in
Thermoplastic resin easy to mold is preferably used as the material of the support 2 without any particular limitation. Examples of such thermoplastic resin to be used include polybutyleneterephthalate (PBT), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polysulfone (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), ABS resin, thermoplastic elastomer, or composite materials of these thermoplastic resins. Other than the thermoplastic resins, composite materials in which reinforcement materials such as glass fibers or carbon fibers, or metal is compounded with thermoplastic resin so as to improve the heat resistance, the dimensional stability and the rigidity may be used.
When the housing to which the ventilation member is fixed is used in an environment having a large change in temperature, it is preferable that materials low in deterioration caused by heat, for example, the thermoplastic resins other than thermoplastic elastomer are used as the material of the support. Particularly, PBT, PPS or PS is preferred.
The method for forming the support 2 is not limited particularly. For example, the support 2 may be formed by injection molding or cutting.
The material, structure and form of the breathable film 4 are not limited particularly if sufficient permeability can be secured. It is, however, preferable to select at least one kind from fluororesin porous materials and polyolefin porous materials. Examples of fluororesins include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polychlorotrifluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoro alkyl vinyl ether copolymer, and tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer. Examples of polyolefin monomers include ethylene, propylene, 4-methylpentene-1, and 1-butene. Polyolefins obtained by simply polymerizing or copolymerizing these monomers may be used. In addition, two or more kinds of such polyolefins may be blended, or laminated in layers. Of these, PTFE porous material is particularly preferred because it can keep permeability even in a small area and has a high function of preventing water or dust from invading the inside of the housing.
As shown in
As for the method for laminating the reinforcement material 5 to the breathable film 4, they may be put on top of each other simply, or joined to each other. For example, the joining may be performed in a method of adhesive lamination, thermal lamination, heating deposition, ultrasonic deposition, or adhesion with an adhesive agent. For example, when the breathable film 4 and the reinforcement material 5 are laminated by thermal lamination, a part of the reinforcement material 5 may be heated and melted to be bonded to the breathable film 4. Alternatively, the breathable film 4 and the reinforcement material 5 may be bonded through a fusion bonding agent such as hot melt powder.
Liquid-repellent treatment such as water-repellent treatment or oil-repellent treatment may be given to the breathable film 4 in accordance with the application of the housing. The liquid-repellent treatment can be carried out by applying the breathable film 4 with a substance having a small surface tension, drying the substance and then curing the substance. The liquid-repellent agent is not limited particularly so long as a coat lower in surface tension than the breathable film can be formed as the liquid-repellent agent. It is, however, preferable to use polymer having a perfluoro alkyl group. Examples of such polymers for use include Fluorad (made by Sumitomo 3M Ltd.), Scotchguard (made by Sumitomo 3M Ltd.), Texguard (made by Daikin Industries, Ltd.), Unidyne (made by Daikin Industries, Ltd.), and Asahi Guard (made by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.) (all under trade names). The liquid-repellent agent may be applied by impregnation or spraying.
As for the method for supporting the breathable film 4 on the supporting portion 2a, a method of heating deposition, ultrasonic deposition or adhesion using an adhesive agent is suitable because peeling or floating hardly occurs. From the point of view of handiness, heating deposition or ultrasonic deposition is preferred. When the reinforcement material 5 is laminated to the breathable film 4, any supporting method may be employed without particular limitation as long as the reinforcement material 5 can be fixedly attached to the support 2. Incidentally, when a high liquid-repellent property is required, preferably, the reinforcement material 5 is fixedly attached to the support 2 while the surface higher in liquid-repellent property faces the outside of the housing.
As another method for supporting the breathable film 4 on the supporting portion 2a, the breathable film 4 may be disposed in a mold for forming the support 2 when the support 2 is injection-molded. In this case, the breathable film 4 is integrated with the support 2.
In addition, when a seal portion 2d is provided on the surface of the supporting portion 2a facing the housing as shown in
Examples of preferred materials for the sealing portion 2d include elastomers or foams such as nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), ethylene-propylene rubber (EPM or EPDM) and silicone rubber.
For example, the seal portion 2d may be provided by outer fitting an O-ring of the above-mentioned material to the insertion portion 2b, or may be formed on one side of the supporting portion 2a by two-color molding.
In addition, when the support 2 has a protective portion 2e covering at least a part of the breathable film 4 from above of the breathable film 4 as shown in
The shape of the protective portion 2e is not limited particularly as long as it is a shape not spoiling the permeability of the ventilation member 1. It is, however, preferable that a plurality of opening portions 2f are formed in positions where they cannot be viewed when observed in the gas permeable direction, for example, in the side surface of the protective portion 2e as in the embodiment shown in
As the material of the protective portion 2e, a material similar to that of the other portion of the support 2 may be used. The method for integrating the protective portion 2e with the other portion of the support 2 is not limited particularly. The integration may be attained in a method of heating deposition, ultrasonic deposition, vibration deposition, adhesion using an adhesive agent, fitting, or screwing. Particularly, heating deposition or ultrasonic deposition is preferred because of its low cost and easiness.
In addition, in order to make the ventilation member 1 easy to screw down with a tool or fingers, it is preferable that the outer shape of the support 2 is a shape selected from a circle and polygons when the support 2 is observed in the gas permeable direction. Examples of such a shape include a perfect circle, an ellipse, a hexagon, a pentagon, a quadrangle, and a triangle as shown in
In addition, when an engagement structure with which a tool can be engaged is provided in the support 2, the ventilation member 1 can be fixed to the housing 7 efficiently. It is preferable that the engagement structure includes at least one kind selected from a convex portion and a concave portion. In addition, it is preferable that the engagement structure is formed in at least one surface selected from the surface of the support which can be viewed when the support is observed in the gas permeable direction from the outside of the housing, and the outer circumferential surface of the support.
The engagement structure is, for example, of convex or concave portions 2h formed in the surface of the support which can be viewed when the support 2 is observed in the gas permeable direction from the outside of the housing, as shown in
In addition, if the convex portions 2h, 2i, 2j, 2k and 2n are designed to be broken when force not smaller than predetermined one is applied thereto, it becomes difficult to detach the ventilation member 1 from the housing 7 after the ventilation member 1 is fixed to the housing 7. Thus, it is possible to prevent the ventilation member 1 from being detached from the housing 7.
Another embodiment of a ventilation member according to the invention will be described with reference to
A ventilation member 21 shown in
The insertion portion 2b has a columnar shape whose diameter is substantially the same as that of the opening portion 8 of the housing 7 in the embodiment shown in
Description will be made further in detail. As shown in
Incidentally, although four protrusion portions 2p are formed in the embodiment shown in
Next,
Although the invention will be described below in further detail by use of its examples, the invention is not limited to the following examples.
As Example 1, the ventilation member 1 shown in
First, the support 2 having a structure shown in
Next, a PTFE porous material (Microtex NTF1131 made by Nitto Denko Corp., melting point 327° C.) 0.085 mm in thickness and 20 mm in outer diameter was prepared as the breathable film 4, and polyester-based nonwoven fabric (Axtar made by Toray Industries, Inc., melting point 230° C.) 0.2 mm in thickness was prepared as the reinforcement material 5. The breathable film 4 and the reinforcement material 5 were contact-bonded by heating deposition at a temperature of 260° C. and at a pressure of 5.0×105 Pa for 10 seconds. Thus, a laminate 6 was obtained.
Successively, the laminate 6 was punched out with an outer diameter of 10 mm. The reinforcement material 5 of the laminate 6 was brought into contact with the supporting portion 2a so as to cover the through holes 3 provided in the supporting portion 2a, and contact-bonded to the supporting portion 2a by heating deposition at a temperature of 260° C. and at a pressure of 5.0×105 Pa for 30 seconds. Next, the protective portion 2e was produced by injection molding out of PBT (CG7640 made by Teijin Ltd., melting point 225° C.). The protective portion 2e was 3.5 mm in thickness and 16 mm in outer diameter. Next, the protective portion 2e and the supporting portion 2a were fixedly attached to each other by heating deposition. Finally, an O-ring made of EPDM as the seal portion 2d was fitted onto the insertion portion 2b. Thus, the ventilation member 1 was obtained.
On the other hand, a housing 7 to which the ventilation member 1 was to be fixed was produced by injection molding out of PBT (CG7640 made by Teijin Ltd., melting point 225° C.). The outer wall of the obtained housing 7 was 2 mm in thickness, and the opening portion 8 was 12 mm in inner diameter. The ventilation member 1 was screwed to the housing 7 by hand. Thus, a vented housing was obtained.
As Example 2, the ventilation member 1 shown in
First, the support 2 having a structure shown in
Next, a PTFE porous material (Microtex NTF1026 made by Nitto Denko Corp., melting point 327° C.) 0.02 mm in thickness and 20 mm in outer diameter was prepared as the breathable film 4, and polyester-based nonwoven fabric (Axtar made by Toray Industries, Inc., melting point 230° C.) 0.2 mm in thickness was prepared as the reinforcement material 5. The breathable film 4 and the reinforcement material 5 were contact-bonded by heating deposition at a temperature of 260° C. and at a pressure of 5.0×105 Pa for 10 seconds. Thus, a laminate 6 was obtained.
Successively, the laminate 6 was punched out with an outer diameter of 10 mm. The reinforcement material 5 of the laminate 6 was brought into contact with the supporting portion 2a so as to cover the through holes 3 provided in the supporting portion 2a, and contact-bonded to the supporting portion 2a by heating deposition at a temperature of 260° C. and at a pressure of 5.0×105 Pa for 30 seconds. Next, the protective portion 2e was produced by injection molding out of PP (AW564 made by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., melting point 165° C.). The protective portion 2e was 3.5 mm in thickness and 16 mm in outer diameter. Next, the protective portion 2e and the supporting portion 2a were fixedly attached to each other by heating deposition. Finally, an O-ring made of NBR as the seal portion 2d was outer-fitted to the insertion portion 2b. Thus, the ventilation member 1 was obtained. The ventilation member 1 was screwed to the opening portion 8 of a housing 7 similar to that in Example 1 by hand. Thus, a vented housing was obtained.
As Example 3, the ventilation member 21 shown in
First, the support 2 having a structure shown in
Next, a PTFE porous material (Microtex NTF1131 made by Nitto Denko Corp., melting point 327° C.) 0.085 mm in thickness and 20 mm in outer diameter was prepared as the breathable film 4, and polyester-based nonwoven fabric (Axtar made by Toray Industries, Inc., melting point 230° C.) 0.2 mm in thickness was prepared as the reinforcement material 5. The breathable film 4 and the reinforcement material 5 were contact-bonded by heating deposition at a temperature of 260° C. and at a pressure of 5.0×105 Pa for 10 seconds. Thus, a laminate 6 was obtained.
Successively, the laminate 6 was punched out with an outer diameter of 8 mm. The reinforcement material 5 of the laminate 6 was brought into contact with the supporting portion 2a so as to cover the through holes 3 provided in the supporting portion 2a, and contact-bonded to the supporting portion 2a by heating deposition at a temperature of 260° C. and at a pressure of 5.0×105 Pa for 30 seconds. Next, the protective portion 2e was produced by injection molding out of PBT (CG7640 made by Teijin Ltd., melting point 225° C.). The protective portion 2e was 3.5 mm in thickness. In addition, the outer shape of the protective portion 2e observed in the gas permeable direction was an orthohexagon, 8 mm each side.
Next, the protective portion 2e and the supporting portion 2a were fixedly attached to each other by heating deposition. Finally, an O-ring made of EPDM as the seal portion 2d was inserted into the insertion portion 2b. Thus, the ventilation member 21 was obtained.
On the other hand, a housing to which the ventilation member 21 was to be fixed was produced by injection molding out of PBT (CG7640 made by Teijin Ltd., melting point 225° C.). The outer wall of the obtained housing was 2 mm in thickness, and the opening portion 8 was 12 mm in inner diameter in the portion where the guide grooves 8b were formed and 10 mm in inner diameter in the other portion. The ventilation member 21 was rotated to be inserted into the opening portion 8 of the housing 7. Thus, a vented housing was obtained.
As Example 4, the ventilation member 21 shown in
First, the support 2 having a structure shown in
Next, a PTFE porous material (Microtex NTF1026 made by Nitto Denko Corp., melting point 327° C.) 0.02 mm in thickness and 20 mm in outer diameter was prepared as the breathable film 4, and polyester-based nonwoven fabric (Axtar made by Toray Industries, Inc., melting point 230° C.) 0.2 mm in thickness was prepared as the reinforcement material 5. The breathable film 4 and the reinforcement material 5 were contact-bonded by heating deposition at a temperature of 260° C. and at a pressure of 5.0×105 Pa for 10 seconds. Thus, a laminate 6 was obtained.
Successively, the laminate 6 was punched out with an outer diameter of 8 mm. The reinforcement material 5 of the laminate 6 was brought into contact with the supporting portion 2a so as to cover the through holes 3 provided in the supporting portion 2a, and contact-bonded to the supporting portion 2a by heating deposition at a temperature of 260° C. and at a pressure of 5.0×105 Pa for 30 seconds. Next, the protective portion 2e was produced by injection molding out of PP (AW564 made by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., melting point 165° C.). The protective portion 2e was 3.5 mm in thickness. In addition, the outer shape of the protective portion 2e observed in the gas permeable direction was an orthoquadrangle, 16 mm each side. Next, the protective portion 2e and the supporting portion 2a were fixedly attached to each other by heating deposition. Finally, an O-ring made of NBR as the seal portion 2d was outer-fitted to the insertion portion 2b. Thus, the ventilation member 21 was obtained. The ventilation member 21 was rotated to be inserted into the opening portion 8 of the housing 7 similar to that in Example 3. Thus, a vented housing was obtained.
The ventilation member 51 shown in
On the other hand, the housing 50 shown in
The cover part 61 and the substantially cylindrical body 62 shown in
In addition, a PTFE porous material (Microtex NTF1026 made by Nitto Denko Corp., 0.02 mm in thickness, 0.6 μmin average pore size, and 80% in porosity) was prepared as the ventilation filter 63. Next, the ventilation filter 63 was brought into contact with the bottom portion of the obtained substantially cylindrical body 62, and then pressed against the bottom portion of the obtained substantially cylindrical body 62 by heating deposition at a temperature of 150° C. and at a pressure of 10×104 Pa for 10 seconds. Then, the substantially cylindrical body 62 was fitted to the upper cover part 61. Thus, the ventilation member 60 was obtained.
On the other hand, the housing 50 shown in
Pull-out force was measured in the following method upon the vented housings obtained thus. Table 1 shows the measurement results.
In the “pull-out test”, each ventilation member was pulled under the condition of a rate of pulling of 8.33×10−4 m/s in the direction to pull the ventilation member out of the housing. Then, the maximum value at that time was regarded as pull-out force. Incidentally, when the pull-out force was not smaller than 30 N, it was judged to be impossible to pull out.
As described above, according to the invention, a ventilation member in which the possibility that the ventilation member is pulled out of a housing has been reduced, and a vented housing using the ventilation member can be provided.
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| P2002-140629 | May 2002 | JP | national |
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